BE FREE YC is the only specialist charity supporting young carers in Oxfordshire (operating across Oxford, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse). It offers support and advice to improve the lives and wellbeing of young carers. It enables young carers to meet, socialise and have fun, increasing their self-confidence and improving their mental wellbeing.
• Emotional support and befriending – enabling young carers can talk through their concerns, and working with schools and families to help to alleviate isolation, anxiety and stress that so many young carers experience.
• Social Activities – trips and workshops, offering time away from their caring roles, to make friends, socialise and have fun.
• Training – in key skills such as first aid, cookery/nutrition and relaxation to improve their self-confidence and ability to cope in their caring roles.
• Young Carers Leisure Card – discounted pay and play activities and gym use at local leisure centres across Southern Oxfordshire in partnership with BETTER Leisure.
Barracks Lane Community Garden is a beautiful green space and eco building at the heart of a vibrant community in Oxford. It is for everyone to use and enjoy by visiting, booking for a private function or by coming along to one of the many events and activities that are held throughout the year.
Barton Community Association is committed to improving the quality of life for all Barton residents, through the promotion of well-being, the continued support for employment, and by providing a central meeting hub for community and support activities. They organise community events and activities, run community action groups, and provide facilities for the local community and business.
BYHP provides a range of specialist services offering support, advice and guidance to young people and their families. They offer services in three core areas, supporting between 200 and 300 young people annually:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Training and Employability
- Housing and Homelessness Advice with a foodbank.
Aspire Oxford exist to help vulnerable people who are facing challenges such as homelessness, poverty, addiction, offending histories or mental health difficulties to move into the world of work. Aspire Oxford can offer work experience within their own enterprise businesses and the person-centred support they need to make their own lasting change.
Ark-T Centre is an Oxford community arts centre where people, art and ideas come together. Ark-T offers short-term interventions for young people, using the power of creativity and community to support their wellbeing. It also runs creative in-person wellbeing workshops.
Its personal and social aims are:
– to improve well-being and quality of life
– to grow diverse leadership
– to cultivate inclusion in the arts
– to develop and co-produce outstanding community art
The Animation Station is an inclusive arts organisation which aims to animate young hearts and minds through the use of animation and digital moving image in relation to new technology, artists and the community.
It delivers core programmes of activities with schools, community groups, colleges and arts organisations embedding creativity, excellence and aspiration at the heart of its programme.
akt supports lgbtq+ young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.
They support young people into safe homes and employment, education or training, in a welcoming and open environment that celebrates lgbtq+ identities.
akt helps young people:
- Stay safe in a crisis
- Find emergency accommodation
- Access specialist support
- Develop skills, identify and achieve life goals
They do this by providing:
- Access to advice from one of their housing specialists
- Connection to a mentor for one-to-one support
- Access to our emergency support pack or tenancy starter pack
- A safe place with one of their many housing provider partners
- Access to life skills training, events and peer support networks
Adventure Plus helps children and young people reach their potential and make positive life choices, whilst giving them a great time in the great outdoors! They want to see young people embrace the adventures that life offers. They are passionate about helping them get active, push themselves and learn more about who they are and what they are capable of – all within the bigger perspective of the Christian faith, which is at the heart of what they do.
Their home is their Adventure Base, an 80 acre site in Clanfield, West Oxfordshire, where they welcome young people, families, schools, youth groups, churches and businesses. They also go on adventures across the UK and further afield.
The vision of African Families in the UK (AFiUK) is to equip African and other ethnic minority families in the UK to take their rightful place as fruitful members of our society, and to make the most of the available opportunities in their adopted country without adversely affecting the strong family and community networks that Africans are known for.
AFiUK aims be the one-stop place for families of African and other ethnic minority origin, resident in the UK, seeking advice or information, on matters relating to parenting, children’s education and any family-friendly activities that enrich family life.
They also offer consultation and expert knowledge to professionals and practitioners from Local Authorities and other family support agencies.
